Boris Johnson flies today to Iran to try to win the release of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe
Boris Johnson flies to Iran today to try to secure the release of jailed British mother Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe stressing his “grave concerns” about her continued incarceration.
Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe is serving a five-year sentence over allegations, which she denies, of plotting to overthrow the Tehran government, having been arrested in 2016 during a holiday visit to show her baby daughter Gabriella to her parents.
Reports suggest she could appear in court again on Sunday, following threats to increase her sentence by five years following Mr Johnson's gaffe of telling a parliamentary committee that she had been in Iran to train journalists. He later acknowledged this was not the case.
Speaking ahead of the visit Mr Johnson, the Foreign secretary, said: “I will stress my grave concerns about our dual national consular cases and press for their release where there are humanitarian grounds to do so.
“Iran is a significant country in a strategically important, but volatile and unstable, region which matters to the UK's security and prosperity.
"My first visit is an opportunity to hold further discussions on a series of crucial issues, including how we can find a political solution to the devastating conflict in Yemen and secure greater humanitarian access to ease the immense suffering there.
“I will also underline the UK's continued support for the nuclear deal while making clear our concerns about some of Iran's activity in the region.
“While our relationship with Iran has improved significantly since 2011, it is not straightforward and on many issues we will not agree.
“But I am clear that dialogue is the key to managing our differences and, where possible, making progress on issues that really matter, even under difficult conditions. I look forward to a constructive visit.”
It is understood that Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's husband Richard will not accompany Mr Johnson after receiving advice that it may not help his chances of seeing his wife in prison.
Tehran does not recognise Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's dual UK-Iranian nationality, and refuses access to her for representatives of the British authorities, making a prison visit for the Foreign Secretary unlikely during the trip.
Hers is one of a small number of cases of dual nationals whose release Britain is seeking on humanitarian grounds on which Mr Johnson will push for progress.
The Foreign Office has declined to name the other individuals involved - or even identify the number in jail - after their families asked for their cases to be kept out of the public eye.
Mr Johnson's trip to Tehran is only the third by a UK Foreign Secretary since 2003 and comes at a time of tension in the Middle East over Donald Trump's announcement that he is recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
In wide-ranging talks with Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, Mr Johnson will seek to shore up bilateral relations and urge Tehran to stick by the terms of its 2015 nuclear deal.
Iran is also likely to raise the issue of a £400 million debt, revealed by the Telegraph last month, dating back to an abortive order for tanks by the pre-revolutionary regime in 1979, which remains unpaid despite a court ruling against the UK.
The cash has already been deposited in a court for payment, and it is understood that work is under way to find a sanctions-compliant method for handing it over.
The Foreign Office has always stressed that the payment of the money is in no way linked to the cases of Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe and the other imprisoned dual nationals.
